A spoiled rich boy who drives an SUV to school every day is forced to walk to school. He whines about the long road and freaks out until a boy in a wheelchair shows him the true meaning of “overcoming obstacles.”
13-year-old Ryan was a lazy video game addict who always needed the housekeeper’s help for everything, including getting ready for school.
Noticing how spoiled his son was becoming, his rich father decided to make things right. One day the boy was late for school. He was sure that his father would take him there in his SUV in no time. But he was wrong…
“Go get her… get her!” Ryan was busy at his game console. He was so distracted while playing that he didn’t have time to put his socks and shoes on, so the housekeeper did that for him.
“Father, I’m done. Let’s go!” he called, grabbing his backpack and an apple from the table.
Ryan’s father, Alex, always dropped him off at school, even though it was only a seven-minute walk from their home. To Ryan it felt like a hundred exhausting kilometers.
He made himself comfortable in the passenger seat and played games on his father’s cell phone. When he least expected it, his father told him to get out of the car and walk to school instead.
“What? Father, are you kidding me? I can’t walk to school with this heavy backpack. Please put me down, father,” he grumbled. “I’m not used to walking and everyone will tease me. Rich kids who have fancy cars like us don’t walk to school. At least I’m not willing to do that. Dad, come on , take me to school!”
With determination and willpower, we can overcome even the greatest obstacle.
But Alex wouldn’t move. Instead, he played deaf, helped Alex put on his backpack, and waved goodbye before leaving on an extended business trip. “You’re a grown boy now, Ryan! Stop moaning and just go. Get used to it. See you later!” he said, driving past the puzzled Ryan.
The boy stared at the long road ahead and grumbled. He was afraid of the many taunts he would hear from his classmates. He loved showing off his father’s expensive SUV to school. It was his symbol of pride. That’s why the way to school seemed like an insult to him. He was ashamed and started to whine.
“Hey, look, the rich boy in our class! Why is he walking? Where’s his father’s SUV today?” he heard one boy on one bike say to another.
“He’s a crybaby! Look at his whining. He’s always skipping class, maybe his dad punished him for his bad grades!” scoffed another.
Ryan wanted to run home. He was terribly embarrassed, but kept going.
“Phew!” He was panting when he got to the school gate. He entered his classroom and sank into the chair. He was exhausted. He wasn’t used to walking for even a few minutes. Ryan was such a lazy boy.
Meanwhile, a boy named Mike entered the classroom in a wheelchair. Despite being new to the class, all the boys and girls greeted him warmly, much to Ryan’s frustration.
Ryan had never found a single friend in all those years. Nobody liked him because he was lazy and proud. The attention Mike was getting that day annoyed Ryan. He was already sad, and that made his mood worse.
The next day, Ryan threw a tantrum at home, complaining about why he had to walk to school. He urged his mother to take him, but that wasn’t in Alex’s plan. He had strictly forbidden anyone to drive Ryan to school until he learned how to behave and not be lazy.
For the next few days, the boy had no choice but to walk to school. One day, as he was leaving the house grumbling, he saw Mike alone in the street, pushing his wheelchair.
Curious, Ryan slowed the pace and approached him. “Hey, what are you doing alone? Don’t you have anyone to help you?” Ryan asked.
Mike was new to the neighborhood and lived just a few blocks from Ryan’s house. He had recently moved in with his grandparents after losing his ability to walk in a car accident that also killed his parents.
“Why are you driving alone? Aren’t you tired? You can take the school bus…I’m sure they take kids like you!” Ryan said, not realizing how much his hurtful words would upset poor Mike. But instead of getting angry, the boy stopped and turned around.
“Because that’s how I train! I don’t rely on anyone to do anything for me. I do it myself,” he said, stunning Ryan, who had no idea how his perspective on life was about to change.
“Work out with what?” he asked Mike.
“Before my father died in the hospital, he held my hand and told me to be strong and not let my condition discourage me because no one but me would stand up for me,” Mike revealed.
“So I promised him that one day I would be a good boxer and win a boxing competition. I told him I would never let anyone hurt me, emotionally or physically. I train hard every day at home and in rehab – Center for people with disabilities like me. I may not be able to walk, but that doesn’t make me weak or inferior.”
Hearing Mike’s words, Ryan’s conscience began to question itself. He thought of the sloppy attitude he had displayed all his life and felt guilty.
After this enlightening encounter, Ryan decided it was time to change his ways.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Mike jumped when Ryan started pushing his wheelchair forward.
“I’ll take you to school,” Ryan said.
“But why do you want to do that? And why are you walking to school lately? Doesn’t your father have a car?”
“Yes he did. But from now on I will never drive his car to school again. I wasted so much time being lazy and taking things for granted. And you showed me that with determination and willpower overcome even the biggest obstacle. I want to train with you after school. Do you want to take me with you?”
From that day on, Ryan and Mike were inseparable and became best friends. Ryan always stood up for Mike. He stopped wasting his time playing video games, got his job done without relying on anyone, and never boasted about his wealth. He never drove to school again, nor did he complain about long walks.
When Alex returned, he was surprised at the drastic change in his son’s behavior. He learned that Mike was responsible and realized the boy was just like his son, only with an extraordinary purpose. In the end, Alex offered to adopt Mike as his second son because he wanted to see the two boys grow up together.
What can we learn from this story?
Nothing can stop you if you have the determination and courage to pursue your dreams. Despite being rich, Ryan failed to realize his full potential. But Mike, who was in a wheelchair, was determined to be a boxer and worked up the courage to train for it.
Stop complaining and appreciate what you have; not everyone is blessed with the opportunities you get. Ryan was a rich, spoiled boy who took everything for granted and that everything in life was so easy to get. He didn’t appreciate the opportunities he was blessed with until he met a boy in a wheelchair who had to work hard to overcome his obstacles.